Giancarlo Fisichella

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:55 am

Why would Fisichella go to Ferrari to fill in for Massa and give up a stable ride? Is that just a rumor with out merit, would he be thinking he would replace Kimi (now that he as won perhaps screwing that up), does he think Massa isn't going to come back, is it just every italaian little boys dream to drive for the prancing horse is so strong that he will be happy to end his career with 7 rides in a Ferrari.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:08 am

clinehall wrote:

is it just every Italian little boys dream to drive for the prancing horse is so strong that he will be happy to end his career with 7 rides in a Ferrari.

Give yourself a bell

RobLupella · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:52 pm

Rumor is that Fernando is going to Ferrari as Massa's teammate. The original rumor had Kimi going to McLaren but now they say that Rosberg is going there. Who the hell knows? There is also a rumor of them letting them have 3 cars and Mikey coming back.......

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:53 pm

I thought a motorcycle accident had Mikey not able to play in F1 anymore? - AB

MartynWheeler · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:30 pm **Posts:** 303

Looks like a win/win/win to me. Fisi gets his drive for Ferrari, including at Monza in front of the tifosi. Ferrari gets a driver who doesn't suck. Force India gets to ride the publicity high and (I hope, pure speculation) gets a very hefty kickback into their next year's development budget for being nice enough to let Fisi go ride his dream for a few months.

I am kind of disappointed that it looks like it'll be Liuzzi to take over for Fisi, though. I've never thought that much of him -- he's ok, but that's all -- and I'd rather see another GP2 hotshoe get a run. There's enough races left to justify throwing away the GP2 points standings in favour of a run at F1.

If Karun Chandok was performing this year like he did in '08 I'd be shattered that he didn't get a chance at the seat, but this year his driving has lost the flair and style. But Di Grassi would I think be a better choice than Liuzzi.

(Ignoring Hulkenberg and Petrov, of course, because they should be shoe-in's for a decent drive next year and don't need the 1/3-season F1 ride to get attention. Hulkenberg because of Willy Weber, and Petrov because of talent and backing money. If BMW were still in the game, I'd easily see Petrov in one of their seats next year, but so it goes...)

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Liuzzi is Force India's third driver, and has decent F1 experience (the first Toro Rosso driver to score a point). There's scuttlebutt that FI still owes Ferrari money for the engines that were used last year, Luca could wave the magic wand and make that go away if he wanted to give Fisi a chance.

Then again, Alonso may be trying to get the hell away from Renault considering that the FIA (in its infinite wisom) is reviewing last year's Shanghai result.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:05 am

I would tend to agree that this allows Fisichella to live out a dream as well probably settle some type of debt owed to Ferrari by Force India.

On a semi-related note...

Did anyone find it odd that there was no talk about how Raikkonen handled the start of the race? Particularly the extensive off course excursion at La Source?

I only watched the re-play once, and while Raikkonen had a great start, my impression was that there was zero chance of him making the turn at La Source and remaining on track even if there was no other cars. That maybe (I can hear the black helicopters approaching now), the plan all along was to run up the left side at high speed, knowing that La Source (a right hand turn) would be full of other cars when he arrived and then "happen" to go off to avoid the mess. Then use the wide and long paved runoff to continue to accelerate and then eventually merge back onto track. Basically a way to gain positions, but to avoid the potential for collision at La Source. If that was the plan it worked quite well.

I like the safety of the paved runoff areas, but I don't like how drivers occasionally use them without penalty (via stewards or just lost time).

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:08 am

I thought the same thing, why doesn't the penalty for cutting out a curve that gains advantage apply here? Wasn't there a race last year that turned on that very thing?

I love F1 but it is so much a soap opera, I guess it always has been it is just the info is more available than ever before.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:30 am

After I posted the above, I searched YouTube to see if I could find a replay of the first lap and watch it again and see if it was as I remembered. I found this interesting video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcjM6LYxS7k

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:28 am

clinehall wrote:

I thought the same thing, why doesn't the penalty for cutting out a curve that gains advantage apply here? Wasn't there a race last year that turned on that very thing?

Yes, what was that race last year where someone took a paved run off and gained an advantage. Let see, I think it was... Spa 2008!

My theory as to why this didn't raise many eyebrows is that they (Race Stewards) appear to be very lenient with respect to what happens in the first turn of the first lap. That you have the entire field racing for that first turn and going off track to avoid collisions happen. I just think Ferrari planned on having an accidental off track excursion to “avoid collision”. Of course if that run off area had been a gravel trap, I have no doubt that Raikkonen would have slowed and made the turn.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:39 am

LOOK OUT!!!

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:01 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

LOOK OUT!!!

Question is... Is that an FIA or Ferrari black helicopter. Or are they one in the same? :shock:

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:25 pm

This whole thread is proof positive of my assertion that F1/Nascar/etc is “soap operas” for men. I’m sure there is some “tech” talk to be made, but the majority is all about who’s switching team, who doesn’t like someone else, who’s friends with who, bla bla bla.

<flame suit on>

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:40 pm

No need for the flame suit with me. I agree

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:53 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

clinehall wrote:

I thought the same thing, why doesn't the penalty for cutting out a curve that gains advantage apply here? Wasn't there a race last year that turned on that very thing?

Yes, what was that race last year where someone took a paved run off and gained an advantage. Let see, I think it was... Spa 2008!

My theory as to why this didn't raise many eyebrows is that they (Race Stewards) appear to be very lenient with respect to what happens in the first turn of the first lap. That you have the entire field racing for that first turn and going off track to avoid collisions happen. I just think Ferrari planned on having an accidental off track excursion to “avoid collision”. Of course if that run off area had been a gravel trap, I have no doubt that Raikkonen would have slowed and made the turn.

Technically, cutting out the chicane shortens the track and gains an advantage. The way Kimi did it technically was the long way although because it was paved and not a sandbox it allowed him to keep the momentum up. I think that you are right in that the first lap seems to be a freebie, but to continue to use that "line" would incur a penalty

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